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Israel raids West Bank towns

Israeli occupation forces in 20 military vehicles raided two West Bank towns in the early hours of Monday morning, clashing with resistance fighters.

12 Apr 2004 08:07 GMT

Palestinian fighters repelled the Jenin invasion

Aljazera's correspondent reported that the occupation troops invaded from all directions. The troops fired several stun grenades and randomly opened fire, he added.

The fierce resistance met by Palestinian fighters however, led to the troops retreating a few hours later.

Israeli troops, in a dozen military vehicles, also raided a Palestinian police station in Tulkarm, arresting an unknown number of policemen.

Alson on Monday, Israeli troops kiled three Palestinians near a Jewish settlement in the northern Gaza Strip. The Israeli army reportedly said "several armed Palestinians" were spotted by Israeli troops near the Netzarim settlement. A gunbattle ensued, with the Israeli army saying one Palestinian was killed.

Palestinian security officials reported three Palestinians were killed in the gunbattle.

White House visit

The West Bank raids came before Sharon's visit to the White House

on Wednesday as President George Bush launches a new round

of Middle East diplomacy this week to lay the groundwork for

Israel's withdrawal of settlements from Gaza.

Israel occupied West Bank andGaza Strip after the 1967 war

Israeli political sources in Jerusalem said Sharon would

get a written US pledge that in exchange for a Gaza pullout,

Israel would not have to give up all of the West Bank, under a

future peace deal.

A diplomatic official said this might be an overstatement

of where the two sides were at this point.

Palestinian officials representing Hamas and the Palestinian Authority have have said that any US assurance to Israel that it will not have to quit all of the West Bank in a future peace deal, will fly in the face of the "road map" and result in even more instability in the region.